12 Gifts of Christmas (TV Movie 2015) Poster

(2015 TV Movie)

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7/10
Lovely movie
limmet-7504311 December 2020
It is a cozy Hallmark movie. I would say it's one of their good ones. The Christmas shopper idea was quite inspiring, wish I could do that. The "drama" in the plot felt kind of off, there was really no need for it.
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5/10
Lame movie, but you know what you're getting yourself into
LucyBonette25 October 2022
Your typical hallmark-y Christmas movie. Story is nothing, acting is worse, and everyone is wearing red and green throughout the movie. I haven't finished yet, but I'm mid-ice skating scene, so I'm expecting the two love birds to fall onto each other and share a kiss any moment now.

Other than that, there is absolutely no humour in this. The only funny moments were not intentional. The two of them eating cupcakes with knife and fork, very casually, not part of any joke. Botox mom calling her son with her glasses all crooked. And the most funny of all is the family painting. That really made me laugh. If you know, you know.

On a more serious note, what is up with that manipulative sister, guilt tripping the main character into baby sitting all the time?!
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6/10
Personal annoyances but overall not bad
mccabe-shannon1 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Who eats cupcakes with a knife and fork?! Fork, sure but a knife? And both of them?!

I don't care how busy you are, you have a few hours to see family on Christmas when they live in the same state. The mom pops by his office because she was in the area. They live in Long Island. And yet she makes it sound as if it's been ages since he has seen them for the holidays. Again, nobody is that busy. When his sister asks what he is doing Saturday he said "I usually go to the office for a bit". A bit. Which shows he doesn't work all day every day so why not Christmas?

After 1 shopping client, Anna goes to look at a super fancy new apartment when she previously couldn't even pay her sister rent on time?!

How does he get into her basement apartment to knock on an inside door? And why is she hiding a blanket on the couch or her mug? Clothes I get but ugh.

The mix up for the 21st, she is going to meet Mark's family to get to know them to get them a Christmas gift. She tells her sister "don't worry, I'll have plenty of other chances to meet them". Really? He only speaks to them once a month and yet there is plenty of time to meet them before Christmas?! Also he picks them up at 5pm at the end of December and it's middle of the day bright out but when they get to Long Island it is fully night time.

Obviously other annoyances, as I always have with these, even though I still love them. I didn't feel as though there was much chemistry, even though they are both attractive, that's kinda all there is.

Anna is so concerned that people won't take her seriously as an artist if her Santa painting is used for the ad campaign and gets so angry. I mean she has a right to be angry for him to use it without permission, since it's illegal and all. But nobody will know it's her's or use a fake name. She also forgives him so quickly when her sister says he was gushing about her like what?! Like let's wrap up this movie it's a silly storyline problem.

Mark goes to his moms Christmas morning and asks why the boys are in pajamas and they say "we slept over". They flew into town to visit for the holiday, the mom has a huge house, wouldn't they be staying there?!

She met marks family the night of the 21st. She got pissed at him right after and yet by the morning of the 25th she had painted a huge detailed family portrait that would have taken weeks to paint. Yea right.

I did not mean for this to be a whole list of annoyances I really intended for an actual review. But that was fun! Haha.
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6/10
Nice Christmas Hallmark movie
MegaSuperstar12 December 2020
Most Hallmark Christmas movies make the difference with other Christmas movies in the fact that they are bright and agreeable, although they tend to be too bland and corny and have not exactly complicated plots. However, this one's a bit more elaborated, resulting in a more entertaining and nice to watch movie with fine cast and beautiful photography. A painter who does not succeed in her profession (Katrina Law, who resembles Relic Hunter star Tia Carrere) and lives with her sister's family decides to work as a personal shopper to earn some money to pay her rent. Her first client is an executive (Aaron O'Connell, who resembles a young Richard Gere) who has no time to buy Christmas presents. While they met and work together, his priorities begin to change and begins to really enjoy life while falling for her. Filmed in a visually attractive New York city it is an easy watching movie that runs along smoothly and provides a nice entertainment without being too corny. If you liked this one try With love, Christmas.
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6/10
Good movie but one element bothered me
PeterBradford12 February 2016
A fine film to watch around the holidays, with two strong leads. But something bothered me. I mean, really bothered me. I'm not hating on Donna Mills, but she played the main character's mother. The young man is in his late twenties, no older. Donna Mills is made up/lit/diffused/whatever to look thirty years old. The woman in seventy-five. Women that age should not look thirty! She looked more like the character's sister than his mother. That distracted me so much, that's pretty much all I have to say in this review. Good film. Good lead actors. But, damn. Don't make a seventy five year old woman look thirty. It took me right out of the movie.
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7/10
A NYC Holiday Romance
atlasmb4 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Anna Parisi (Katrina Law) is a struggling NYC artist, dealing with the proverbial Catch-22 of not being successful enough for a gallery to display her art. She becomes a personal shopper to make money during the holiday season. Marc Rehnquist (Aaron O'Connell), a busy advertising exec, hires her, hoping to ease his workload. Their relationship is rocky at first, but things get better until Marc offends her.

Katrina Law is solid in this role, and Aaron O'Connell impressively demonstrates a real character transformation---from someone so uptight that it was difficult to see any way he could eventually become a romantic partner to the artistic Anna. But he pulls it off.

I especially enjoyed the way that Anna is rewarded for her creative thinking. What I disliked the most was the way she (at one point) indicates Marc will have to change to be good enough for her. And she is offended by something that was done with the best of intentions by Marc and her sister. But she does get past her narrow-minded annoyance.

This is an enjoyable film and the two leads are primarily responsible because of the chemistry between them.
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3/10
What in the world is wrong with those family photos?!
mimidicious21 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Oh boohoohoo, I'm a clearly-not-struggling artist, switching from places that look more luxurious than an average well-paid family can afford, and I happen to bump into a handsome millionaire- who's generously paying me for gift ideas and is willing to help me achieve my biggest dream: getting my work out, oh, it's so unfair... he only thinks about himself, boohoohoo.

Honestly, I don't want to bash this movie but ... man.. this was difficult to sit through- as so many other Christmas movies that follow the exact same cringy story arc.

I get it, it's supposed to be a "feel good" movie but when I keep rolling my eyes this often, it's just not good... but hey! Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm jealous to not have found my own perfect Christmas millionaire.

On a different note: can someone PLEASE tell me what in the world is wrong with those family photos?!!!
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8/10
Likable leads and a watchable story
phd_travel30 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This year's Hallmark Christmas comedy romance is better than the average one and worth a watch. A struggling artist (Katrina Law) becomes a personal shopper as Christmas approaches. Her first client is an driven ad exec and of course romance ensues.

The cast is likable and attractive. Katrina Law plays the artist turned personal shopper. For those who watch 'Arrow' where she plays a fierce warrior woman with a pseudo British accent, this role is a complete 180 and she shows she is versatile and can play the cute romantic lead. She makes a believable looking couple with Aaron O'Connell as the ad exec who works too hard. Donna Mills plays his mother and she looks amazingly young still.

There is an obligatory drama just before the romance comes together about her 'art' which makes one ask what's the fuss about.

Some Hallmark Christmas movies are too cutesy and the lead actors can be annoying but this one isn't one of them.
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7/10
Gift wrapped
TheLittleSongbird26 May 2020
If you have seen your fair share of Hallmark Christmas films, it would be safe to say that you are very likely to know what to expect and one shouldn't expect any more. Have seen my fair share myself and have always watched them with mixed expectations. That are either met and even exceeded, or the film completely misses the mark and does little with any potential. '12 Gifts of Christmas' was no different, familiar plot but Katrina Law impressed in other Hallmark work of hers (i.e. 'Snow Bride').

'12 Gifts of Christmas' exceeded the mixed expectations had before watching. Very few Hallmark festive films fit my definition of great and '12 Gifts of Christmas' is no exception. Compared to other Hallmark etc. films seen in the past four/five months or so, it fares favourably though and towards being in the better half of a hit and miss bunch. Even if not a must see or one one can watch over and over, it is worth seeing once or twice.

Did feel that it started off on an unsure note. It takes a while to find its footing and Anna is a pretty obnoxious character (or so it seemed to be) early on.

Was not expecting many surprises watching '12 Gifts of Christmas' and expectedly the film didn't provide very many at all. It is the standard Hallmark Christmas film formula pretty much story-wise with not much variation, with some of it obviously telegraphed early on. The ending can be seen from some while off.

Once '12 Gifts of Christmas' gets going, being a film that also takes time to find its footing, and Anna starts to develop and evolve, it does become much better so stick with it. The production values are very pleasing to look at, nice use of locations slickly shot. The music captures the Christmas feel very well and is not near as over-scored or intrusive as too many of a lot of Hallmark films. The script can be very corny, but mostly flows nicely and has a light-hearted and sweet tone without being saccharine.

Despite the predictability, the story is charming is light on its feet and warms the heart. Much of the pace doesn't drag and the characters are generally not bad, Anna in the early portions being an exception. Nice to see characters that actually show growth. The acting is also pretty decent, with solid supporting turns and very engaging lead performances from particularly Law. The chemistry between the actors is existent at least and doesn't take too long to build or feel hastily wrapped up. Donna Mills looks amazing too and steals all her scenes.

All in all, not a bad film at all. 7/10
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2/10
I. Just. Can't
nadiacjohnson-1919127 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Kind of a spoiler.... Maybe this is just me but one thing REALLY bothered me in this movie. Struggling artist gets upset ( like, I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN kind of upset) that the guy wants to use her art in a major ad campaign. Wanted to MOVE OUT of her sister's house! Is moping around at Christmas... made the character a lot less endearing. All the dude wanted to do was help!!!
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8/10
Not bad
MyTinderbox5 November 2020
Good acting and storyline. I enjoyed this movie for a number of reasons but mostly because of the two leads who complimented one another. However, it felt like she was "cheating" on the character, Ben Tannenhill from another Hallmark movie, Snow Bride. (Just kidding...sort of). Loved that coupling.
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6/10
Great Performances!
brookenichole-980541 December 2020
12 Gifts of Christmas is enjoyable. It's definitely one of the better Hallmark movies. The Christmas magic is there and the chemistry is nice between Katrina Law and Aaron O' Connell. I adored all the Christmas decorations and the paintings Anna made. This movie is pretty good, just not the best.
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2/10
Worst. Acting. Ever.
sharnelperera7 January 2022
The premise is fine, plot is fine, but the acting is SO BAD that the film is difficult to watch. The film itself is very cliche, it's the standard cookie cutter Hallmark Christmas movie, which is fine if you want something light and meaningless to watch. If the acting was better the movie would be more watchable. Unfortunately it's not.
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7/10
Six of the stars are for Katrina Law!
Racingphan28 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Why doesn't Hallmark have Katrina Law in a Christmas movie every year? She can take a poorly written mess like this and turn into a much watch with her charm and beautiful smile. As for the story, personal shopper is one of those imaginary jobs you see only in television. Katrina's character treats the male lead like garbage most of the movie, even though he is so clearly trying hard to please her. This is no Snow Bride, but I'll watch anything with Katrina Law.
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6/10
Enjoyably Bad
matt-116-49535623 December 2020
Honestly this is one of the more fun laugh at watches I've had this xmas season! Watching Utah try to mascarade as New York offers a handful of laughs, the wonderfully acted overreactions Are delightful, our two leads have some potential chops if the material was better, they commit to some insane lines with incredible results! Finally the first family portrait had me in stitches! Awkward writing, met with descent acting and editing makes for an enjoyable laugh watch!
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7/10
Katrina Law makes this worth watching
Christmas-Reviewer4 January 2017
BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. TRUST ME THIS FILM IS TERRIBLE. NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE.

When Anna, an unemployed painter, is unable to make ends meet, she is hired to become a personal Christmas shopper for Marc, an uptight corporate exec. As they work together, Marc learns that Christmas giving has less to do with the amount of money spent and more to do with the importance of the gift, while Anna discovers she might find success as an artist in a way she never expected.

At first lead actor (Aaron O'Connell) reminded me of Brendon Villegas however after about 5 minutes I forgot all about that.

Katrina Law looks like (to me) Olivia Munn and someone should cast them as sisters in something.

AS for the film itself its is enjoyable. You know how this is going to end. I don't mind the predictable endings its the journey the film takes that is the most important. This film takes a familiar route. However what was nice is that the 2 main characters do not start off as adversary's. That is such a tired cliché now. In this film we learn that her (only) client wanted to be the next John Updike. She is a great painter. She wants (and still wants) to be taken very seriously as an artist. So you you think you know whats going to happen and it does but it is not exactly the ending you think it will be.

Katrina Law is a welcome addition to the Hallmark stable of actors. Candace Cameron, Alcia Witt, Danica McKellar all seem to have a film a year. Now This is the 2nd Christmas film I have seen Katrina in. I liked the film "Snow Bride".

This film is what you do expect from a Hallmark film. The casting in this film makes this better than the average Hallmark film. Suitable for all ages however males of any age will hate this. AS for me I was never bored but I was the film should have taken a few more chances. Now next year will I watch this again? Well I won't go out of my way to see it but if I stumble upon it I would watch it.
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1/10
Sentiment non-existant
dimitrafyrg6 December 2021
We are not talking bad chemistry, we are talking no chemistry or sentiment to be found! The movie was just bland with regards to the emotion. Awkward and useless.
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9/10
Much better than expected
Pete-Claus17 December 2019
Based on the other reviews I wasn't expecting too much from this movie, but it turned out to be one of the best I have seen. Light and breezy dialogue, and a plot that kept moving with likeable characters, are among its strengths. But it also dealt with questions of goals and life direction so it wasn't all fluff, either. All in all a charming, engaging movie with enough plot surprises to keep you interested and entertained.
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6/10
Always has bothered me
shughes-8090422 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
That Anna's dress she wears to Mark's office party has a torn area on the right side. So easy to spot. Otherwise I like the movie, especially the change in Mark.
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3/10
Painted by numbers
Prismark104 December 2016
Another one of these bland Hallmark Christmas films with adorable, good looking leads.

Anna Parisi (Katrina Law) is an aspiring artist who is looking for that big break. We see her getting a brush off from a snooty art museum manager. She turns to her other talent which is personal shopping and develop that into a side business over the upcoming holidays.

Marc Rehnquist (Aaron O'Connell) is a workaholic advertising executive who is always on his mobile phone, he briefly met Anna at a bakery and later employs her to pick out Christmas gifts for his family and friends. At first things are difficult as Anna gets a gift for a friend of his that was not in his list but it turns out that his friend actually liked the gift. So he then gives her a free reign to get the kind of presents his friends like, she also gets Marc to connect with his family who he has been distant with and increasingly they spend more time with each other and fall for each other.

The plot develops as after a scathing business meeting Marc uses a special painting of Anna's in order for his ad campaign. She overreacts at first for some unfathomable reason even though it will giver her work some prominence.

This is an affable film at Christmas but a bit beige with not much plot. However you cannot keep your eyes of Donna Mills who plays Marc's mother. She was 75 years old when she made this movie and with all the work she has had done she does not look like anyone's mother.
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8/10
Super cliche, but also super uplifting
backup-5036221 December 2021
This is a really by-the-books romantic Christmas comedy, right down to an 80s dressing montage, I kid you not.

But what makes it stand out is how sweet and cute the main characters are.

There's no cringe pandering or mean spirited antagonism as in most rom coms, this one is just very nice and uplifting. Highly recommended. Trust me, you need this.
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7/10
Enjoyed the actors
herrcarter-9216111 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This wasn't the best Hallmark Christmas movie ever, but it was enjoyable to watch. The 2 leads seemed to have good chemistry and both of them were eye candy. What's not to like? I especially liked Katrina Law's performance. She seemed to light up the screen with every scene that she was in.

The story line was a little far fetched. Is there really anyone who would pay someone $30 an hour to Christmas shop for them? Especially when they seem to know exactly what they want to buy for everyone? But as a viewer, you're willing to let that slide, just because the 2 leads are so enjoyable to watch.

I thought the whole power dynamic between the two of them was a bit annoying, too. This was a boss/employee relationship for almost the whole movie. They should have ditched the personal shopper thing halfway through the movie and allowed them to just date each other.

Her outrage at him using her painting for his ad campaign was a little stupid, too. Yeah, he should have asked first, but in reality, the main purpose of this plot line was to provide the requisite bump in the road of the relationship, which we know will be smoothed out at the end. The rom-com formula, especially on Hallmark, seems to require this, but it seems they usually have to manufacture this bump, and, most often, the reasons for it seem pretty unbelievable.

All in all, an enjoyable movie to watch, if you can suspend your disbelief a little bit.
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1/10
I pretty much love any Christmas movie, but this...
pxncdvbcn4 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
My expectations are very low when it comes to Christmas movies. I like that they all have a happy end, and that it's all very simple but joyful entertainment.

But this was another level of bad. The acting was literally atrocious, with zero chemistry between the lead characters. The jokes weren't funny, the dialogue never felt normal, always very forced and fake. I'm quite shocked by people applauding these things.

And how, how... HOW can Anna be so braindead to think that she can rent a clearly very expensive Apartment without any form of stable income, when she can't even pay the rent for her sister's basement? And how is this apartment so readily available?

Now the typical format for these type of movies always contain this point of drama close before the end, but in this case the "drama" was literally the only funny part in the movie. I was literally laughing because I didn't unterstand why Anna got upset about her ugly painting being used for something at least. It looked like the covers of one of those very cheap advent calendars with terrible chocolate in it.

And oh my, what a job they did on his mum, she looks like a ghost in this movie. Crazy lighting and crazy make up, that together with her clothing, makes it look like she's trying to be 30 years old.

I also hate all the fake smiles in this movie, it's as if someone was pinching them and told them to smile or they wouldn't get paid.
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1/10
LOVE HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIES! HATE this movie.
tglucas-1444624 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Hallmark is renowned for their cute cheesy unrealistic and festive Christmas movies. I LOVE THEM! This movie has the same plot as all the others with the main female character being TRULY horrible and useless. Her character does not have a job and lives and mooches off of her sister. Her sister asked her to babysit her kids and the main character doesn't have a job, no kids, no anything and somehow forgets and tried to get out of it. Her sister is legitimately floating her because she wants to be an artist (in which she is actually good) and since she can't get into a gallery she doesn't want to create a resume and chooses to become a personal shopper. She gets 1 client.. whom they obviously fall in love. But why? She is clumsy, doesn't seem too smart, jobless, no motivation, entitled and ungrateful. The dreamy hunk obviously falls for this hot mess of a human. He gets her this amazing gig WITH her art and a ton of graphic design opportunities and again she is ungrateful and upset that she got a job opportunity. This by far is the WORST Hallmark movie I have ever seen. The main character is whiny and annoying and needless to say I couldn't stand her existence. I understand I feel WAY too passionately about this Hallmark movie. I truly love 99% of these Hallmark Movies and this movie is a blemish on their perfect Christmas Hallmark tradition.
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9/10
Feel Good Movie
denise-881528 November 2020
What a delightful movie!! Great casting and wonderful, sincere acting on the part of our stars. As always the spouses of the key actors were a tad stiff; and Donna Mills lipstick at the end of the movie was way over the top...not in a good way. But none of that took away from the story and it's timing for Christmas.
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